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An annual series of free lectures at Portland State returns this summer. For more than 25 years, the PSU Summer Session has brought internationally renowned professors to teach a wide range of courses on campus. The “Tour the World at Home This Summer” series highlights some of these individuals through a brown-bag lecture series, all of which are free, open to the public and held on Wednesdays from noon – 1 p.m. in the Smith Memorial Student Union Multicultural Center (Room 228, 1825 SW Broadway).

This is an opportunity to gain a unique perspective and an international point of view from specialists in a wide range of subjects. The public “Tour the World” lecture series is showcasing four of the visiting professors; Shaul Stampfer, Tianxiang Zhan, Devendra Oza and Peter H. Fogtdal. Contact Dawn White at 725-5075 in the PSU Office of International Affairs for further information on lectures, professors or courses. Additional information is also available at http://www.summer.pdx.edu/ivp.shtml. Schedule of EventsWednesday, June 29, “The Social Significance of East European Jewish Food,” Shaul Stampfer (Israel) Shaul Stampfer earned his Ph.D. in history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he is currently an associate professor. He was born in the United States but has lived in Israel for 35 years. An expert in East European Jewish history, Professor Stampfer has taught courses ranging from the history of religious movements to controversies and reconciliation. He is a member of the Founding Committee of the Jewish University of Moscow.

Wednesday, July 6, “China in the 1960’s and 1970’s: One Family’s Experience During the Cultural Revolution,” Tianxiang Zhan (China) Professor Tianxiang Zhan received his Master of Arts from the Department of History at Hangzhou University in Zhejian Province, China, where he now teaches. In addition to his scholarly training in history and anthropology, Professor Zhan brings to his teaching an extensive personal experience of living through the momentous changes of the Chinese revolution and the continuing transformations of the Chinese nation and its people in the last quarter of the 20th century. He travels and lectures widely at American universities and at international conferences including the Friends World Program, Wharton International Forum and the Symposium on International Education.

Wednesday, July 13, “Modern India: The Legacy of Mahatma Gandhi,” Devendra Oza (India) Devendra Oza of Chennai, India, returns to Portland State this summer to teach a course in the Conflict Resolution graduate program. He is a specialist on Mahatma Gandhi and holds advanced degrees in both Gandhian thought and history. Professor Oza served as vice chancellor of Gandhigram Rural University in India after a career in Indian civil service spanning over four decades. Oza has been both a Fulbright Scholar and a British Council Scholar. He is currently studying the occurrence of civil wars, from 1945 to the present, around the world.

Wednesday, July 20, “Meet the Professors” Portland State hosts an informal reception honoring visiting professors and visiting scholars. In addition to the faculty coming to teach each summer, PSU hosts more than 100 scholars each year, some coming for a few weeks, others for a year or more. This reception is an opportunity to meet some of these visitors, ask questions about their teaching and research, and visit with the PSU faculty with whom they are collaborating. Gil Latz, vice provost for International Affairs, will provide a few words of welcome. Dessert and beverages will be served.

Wednesday, August 3, “Vikings on Valium? A View of Scandinavia from the Outside,” Peter H. Fogtdal (Denmark) Widely published as a novelist, poet and playwright, Peter Fogtdal, after completing his undergraduate education at California State University-Fullerton, returned to Denmark to write for radio, television and the stage. Best known for his satire and historical prose, Fogtdal is the author of nine novels and has received numerous awards for his work. Several of his novels have been bestsellers in Denmark, including The Whipped Cream War (recently published in France as Le Front Chantilly) and The Dreamer from Palestine. He has taught creative writing in Denmark and at several universities in the United States. To find out more about Peter Fogtdal, visit his Web site at www.peterhfogtdal.dk.